A Girl From Hawkins (Jim Hopper x OC)

004

Nov 7th, 1983

After a week of unpacking everything I owned, rearranging my room and applying for any job available across Hawkins, Chester and Avonville. I was about ready to really explore my home again.

Benny had to work, I knew that, I hadn't expected him to drop everything to escort me around a town I knew well enough already. I'd hoped he could get at least some time off to spend with me, but the only other people who worked at the diner were Susan; an older woman who served and cleaned up most days, and Cherie and Toby; teenagers who helped on busy nights and weekends, hardly capable of running the show. So that meant if Benny couldn't come to me, I'd have to go to Benny.

"How about another cup of coffee?" Susan offered, pouring me one anyway.

"Sure, it'll only be my 5th today." It's 11am, the twitch in the corner of my eye says I don't need another coffee, but boy did this woman make a good brew.

"I've seen worse, doll." She winked before moving onto the people three seats down.

I hadn't really explored any further than the house and the diner, I'd been into Big Buys, the store that hadn't changed, they still had the same, slightly faded display of fake fruit on the front section that they'd had since I can remember. But I hadn't been for a walk around the town since I got here, I wanted to but I hadn't seen any of the people here in years. I wanted to catch up with my old friends around the place but they'd ask questions, they'd give me sad, sorrowful eyes when I told them about Mom, and I wasn't ready to talk about that part yet.

"Hey! Earth to Space Cadet!" I snapped out of my thoughts to Benny, waving a spatula in front of my face.

"What, sorry, what?"

"I asked if you want waffles?" He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, pointing at the fresh mixture he'd mixed up.

"Oh god no!" I scoffed, leaning back and rubbing my stomach. "I swear I've put on 40 pounds since I got here." He frowned. "Not that that's a bad thing, you know I'm the biggest fan of your cooking, I'm just saying I like being able to see my toes." I held my hands up in defeat.

"Besides, the Benny's Burger special with bacon and pickles really got me good." I was almost scared to stand up and let the food go down properly.

"It's good right?" Benny grinned proudly.

"Too good." I picked up my keys and practically rolled off the seat. "I'm going to go home and die now."

"Well at least Rip will get a good dinner tonight when you keel over."

"Asshole."

"Hey, when I get home how about we head into town and go watch the movie thats on at Hawk?" Benny had noticed a few days ago my reluctancy to get out of the house for anything other than fried food. "All The Right Moves' or something?"

"That sounds like a wildly inappropriate thing to watch with a family member."

"Shut up, it's a football film, but that's not the point." He pointed the spatula in my face and squinted his eyes. "We're going to get out of the house and you're not going to argue."

I rolled my eyes at him and took a long breath. He was right, at least if I was out with Benny I had some safety net to fall into if I couldn't deal with things.

"Fine, but." I pointed back at him, mimicking everything he did. "You are buying me popcorn and milk duds. Also if the movie sucks then you will join me in throwing popcorn at the screen, agreed?"

"You know Kevin Starling works at the cinema now?" He wiggled an eyebrow at me.

"Oh wow, no way? Does he still have braces?" Kevin was my high school boyfriend, we lasted a measly 3 months before I realised I was head over heels in love with the music sensation that was David Cassidy. Poor Kevin.

"Nope, got 'em removed, he's as cute as he was in your prom photo. You were such an adorable couple."

"Oh do not bring up that night." I rolled my eyes and made a gagging motion. "The guy puked on my dress after half a cup of punch!"

"I hear he's still pining after you, you broke that kids heart, so reckless." He joked, finishing off my cup of coffee.

"Oh really? He didn't seem to mind when he was...he was" I pretended to well up with tears, flapping at my eyes and biting my lip. "he was making out with Shannon Balkowitz after band practice."

"You really are an idiot." He just laughed and shook his head. "I shouldn't be late tonight, I'll pack up here around 6."

"Isn't that before the dinner rush?"

"Ahh they'll have to find somewhere else to eat." He shrugged. "I can't spend every night here."

"Good call." I grinned, he deserved a night off, god knows he puts enough into this place as it is. I paused in the open doorway, spinning around again, I had the urge to tell him. "You know I love you right?"

"I know Kiddo." He sniggered, never comfortable with outward emotions. "I love you too." He let it linger for half a second. "Now get outta here, I got a business to run!" He gave me that signature smile and wink as I ducked out into the overcast morning breeze.

________________________________

8:15PM

I even got dressed in nice clothes and drew some eyeliner on for this evening and there was no sign of Benny. No call, no appearance, nothing.

After another 20 minutes I sighed dramatically, making Ripley jump as I stomped over to the phone, I dialed the diner and stood, arms crossed tapping my foot, another trait I'd picked up from Mom.

"Benny's Burgers, you're talking to Benny." He spoke without thinking, obviously the automatic response for him.

"Hi, my names Charlie, you may not remember me but I was told your head chef would be home by 6, I just wanted to check up if he's still there?"

He sighed deeply down he phone, a tired sort of sigh.

"Hey Kid, I'm really sorry. I tried but the weirdest thing happened, I started closing up, while Chuck and the boys finished their orders and there was this kid in the kitchen, eating left overs, so I'm still here, the kids sat in booth eating through my stock of ice cream right now."

"Bullshit." I laughed, forgetting I was meant to be mad at him. "That's not even a believable  excuse!"

"It's not an excuse! This kid turned up in my kitchen wearing a hospital gown." I heard movement, he spoke quietly into the phone. "I think she's seen some messed up shit, she's got a number tattooed on her arm and her heads shaved right down to a buzz cut."

"A tattoo?" I paused. "You mean like they did in concentration camps?"

"Kind of. She doesn't speak much, doesn't know where she's from, her parents, she seems pretty nervous." He sighed again, obviously tired from a long day. "I've phoned social services, I don't know what to do with her, I...." He stopped mid sentence, thinking about his words. "I think she's been experimented on. She's like 12 or something and she barely knows how to talk."

"Shit...where would she have come from?"

"I've tried asking but she won't budge, especially now she's halfway into a tub of double chocolate chip."

"Do you want me to come down there? See if she'll talk to me? Maybe it's something to do with you being a guy?"

"I don't think so, she just...won't talk, she seems comfortable enough now. Don't worry about it, you stay home and keep Rip company, I'll let you know what happens, okay?"

"...Sure." Something felt off, it was a weird situation, it didn't seem right. "Just, be careful, okay?"

"Okay, I think I can take her, she's weight 80 pounds soaking wet."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah sure, love ya Kid, don't wait up." He hung up without another word. I was worried, that kind of gut worry that you can't shake, if I went down there he'd turn me away.

"What's the worst that could happen?" I asked aloud to the dog.

"How about I make some sandwiches and we watch a movie here?" The dog trotted around the kitchen. My worry not fading at all.